214 



CHARLES DARWIN 



cessively the bird let its prey go, then dived after it, and 

 although in deep water, brought it each time to the surface. 

 In the Zoological Gardens I have seen the otter treat a fish 

 in the same manner, much as a cat does a mouse: I do not 

 know of any other instance where dame Nature appears so 

 wilfully cruel. Another day, having placed myself between 

 a penguin ( Aptenodytes demersa) and the water, I was much 

 amused by watching its habits. It was a brave bird ; and till 

 reaching the sea, it regularly fought and drove me backwards. 

 Nothing less than heavy blows would have stopped him ; every 

 inch he gained he firmly kept, standing close before me erect 

 and determined. When thus opposed he continually rolled 

 his head from side to side, in a very odd manner, as if the 

 power of distinct vision lay only in the anterior and basal 

 part of each eye. This bird is commonly called the jackass 

 penguin, from its habit, while on shore, of throwing its head 

 backwards, and making a loud strange noise, very like the 

 braying of an ass ; but while at sea, and undisturbed, its note 

 is very deep and solemn, and is often heard in the night-time. 

 In diving, its little wings are used as fins ; but on the land, as 

 front legs. When crawling, it may be said on four legs, 

 through the tussocks or on the side of a grassy cliff, it moves 

 so very quickly that it might easily be mistaken for a quadru- 

 ped. When at sea and fishing, it comes to the surface for 

 the purpose of breathing with such a spring, and dives again 

 so instantaneously, that I defy any one at first sight to be 

 sure that it was not a fish leaping for sport. 



Two kinds of geese frequent the Falklands. The upland 

 species (Anas Magellanica) is common, in pairs and in small 

 flocks, throughout the island. They do not migrate, but build 

 on the small outlying islets. This is supposed to be from 

 fear of the foxes: and it is perhaps from the same cause 

 that these birds, though very tame by day, are shy and wild 

 in the dusk of the evening. They live entirely on vegetable 

 matter. 



The rock-goose, so called from living exclusively on the 

 sea-beach (Anas antarctica), is common both here and on 

 the west coast of America, as far north as Chile. In the deep 

 and retired channels of Tierra del Fuego, the snow-white 

 gander, invariably accompanied by his darker consort, and 



